Fated to the Lone Wolf

Luna Shaw #1

by L.L. Winters

“I know what you are Jackson…shift.”

I never thought I’d leave my home in Boston, trading big-city life for small-town living. But, after discovering a letter in my Aunt’s will revealing I had a long-lost grandma and plenty of family secrets, that’s what I found myself doing.

Rural life has proven to be filled with more drama than I could have ever anticipated and I had been excited to eventually return to Boston. That was, until I met Jackson.

Tall, dark and handsome. Muscles for days and eyes that could incapacitate any sane woman, Jackson was sexy as sin.

He keeps telling me to stay away, but how can I when he’s everywhere I go? The heat between us is undeniable, and whether he likes it or not, it seems like fate is pushing us together.

I’m determined to get to the bottom of the mysteries swirling through my life. The townspeople are determined to make me fall in love with maple syrup, and Jackson seems determined to drive me to insanity.

Oh yeah…and apparently, paranormal creatures actually exist!

If you like enemies to lovers shifter romances with a possessive, obsessive alpha male and toe-curling spice, this is the book for you.

This is a full-length novel (100k+words) and book one in a two book series. It ends on a cliffhanger, but don't worry, book two will be released soon! The series has a HEA and is recommended for 18+ readers due to spicy content.

Genres: Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Romance, Fantasy

419 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 31, 2024

Reviews

[Courtney Vandergrient · Rating 5 out of 5]

"'Jackson? Why am I wearing a Nickleback t-shirt?' 'Don't fucking start, you already mocked me for liking Nickleback last night, they're actually a really under-appreciated band,'"

ARC Review
This scene made me feel so seen and I was cackling out loud! Fated to the Lone Wolf is spicy shifter red riding hood retelling and an incredibly addictive read! I finished this book in one sitting. I loved the friendship between Luna and Anna, not many books can capture genuine female friendship the way L.L. Winters did. The chemistry and banter between Jackson and Luna are unmatched. This is why the ending of this book really threw me off, and I immediately need to read book two!!

[Jesslynxreay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good! I really liked the main characters, it had good tension, great spicy scenes. Loved reading the drama unfold, the bits coming out to keep me wanting more. I think there’s still some things the author hasn’t revealed yet and I need to know everything going on! Plenty of mystery. Big cliffhanger! Oh my god though, I read the bonus chapter from his pov and now I’m mad lol. Book 2 better redeem or hopefully I’m thinking wrong! But yeah, awesome read. I got an ARC and am leaving this review of my own volition.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fated to the Lone Wolf: The Luna Shaw Series
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3 stars)
Tags: Spicy, FMC, MMC, Cliffhanger, Enemies-to-lovers, Possessive-alpha male

Reading the description, I was not too sure how I would feel about the book, but it peaked my interest enough that I decided to give it a shot. This is a VERY spicy book that does end in a cliffhanger! If that is not something you are interested in, then I would not suggest this book. However, if this is something you do not mind, then I'd recommend this book for the right reader.

Pros:
-From page 1, the writer captivated me. The story begins with a flashback and then you follow the FMC, Luna, on her journey in present day. Luna travels to Vermont to meet her long-lost grandmother. Along the way, she learns of family secrets that will ultimately change her life.

-While this book is primarily written from Luna's POV, there are a few chapters that are multiple POV, which I am always a fan of. In addition, at the very end of the book, there is an additional chapter in Jackson's (MMC) POV.


Critiques:
-Most of the chapters are relatively long. However, I will state that they are broken up in sections. This critique point is solely based off of my personal preference, which is for a book to have short chapters, so I can finish the chapters quicker and I feel more accomplished when reading.

-There are points during the book where I felt Luna to be too oblivious/innocent for my liking. It was to the point where she started to become very annoying in some sections of the book, and I just found myself giving a ton of eyerolls. One example from the book (not a spoiler), is when she references how her 'Granny' would not approve of her doing certain things, yet at this point in the book, she barely knew her. To me, this scenario just felt extremely unrealistic and made the character appear to be a lot younger than she actually was. I also felt it contradicted how the character appeared to be portrayed - strong, sassy, and confident.

-Although the book was an enjoyable read, I felt most of the plot line was a little too predictable. During the course of the book, I felt like there were some points that the author may have wanted to be a plot-twist, but that I had already seen coming way beforehand. Although, I will admit, I was slightly surprised by the ending. I had an idea something similar would happen, but it did not occur in the way I expected. I can't dive too much more into this without giving anything away.


Overall, I did find this book to be an enjoyable read, and I do plan to read the next installment. If this book sounds like something you may be interested in, I'd recommend giving it a go. While it will not be ranking in my favorites for this year, I am happy I read it and I am interested to know how the story continues.

Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Belle Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Fated to the Lone Wolf" is a fast-paced, spicy romance that has a lot going for it. Luna is a fun and fiesty female main character, and L.L. Winters does a lot to make her sympathetic from the get-go. I really cared about her and her journey from the start of the book. And Jackson?? HELLLOOOOO Mountain Hunk!! I want to live in his cabin and be pampered in his hot tub, yes, thank you, please!! The characters have a lot of different angles to them, and it made me stop and rethink about their motivations a lot. I love books that make me go back and look at the beginning from new perspectives!

The reasons I am not giving it a five star are the strange structure and the plot points that either pop up and never come again or just go nowhere. I can't quite say why because of spoilers, but I will say that certain things happen to Luna that happen for like one chapter, then it goes away and nobody mentions it again. Or there are references to a big war between certain shifter families, but I still am not sure how or where that fits in to the story at large. As for the structure, what really threw me off was when L.L. Winters said that the last ten or so chapters (of around 30) was a part 2? I imagine this had something to do with the fact that this is part of a longer series and maybe is part two of the series-length storyline?

Either way, I very much recommend "Fated to the Lone Wolf" if you are into shifter romance, paranormal romances, or just into gorgeous, mysterious mountain men! I will definitely be picking up book two to see where book one's cliffhanger goes!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, sexy, and engaging; well worth your time

The first half of L.L. Winters' book, Fated to the Lone Wolf, is nearly all character and world building. It's done very well, but for some people the pace may drag slightly. After that, the pace ramps up pretty quickly. From the numerous authors I've read, L.L. Winters feels like a newer author, with inconsistent pacing throughout the book, but at the same time Winters is someone that adds some fresh flavor to a genre that has become a bit oversaturated and bland. The real surprise is that the world, characters, and story are so fun and engaging that it overwhelms any flaws. There are some instances where a better or more experienced professional editor would have helped. They could have helped with minor things like the few typos or the previously mentioned pacing. Regardless, if you are a fan of the genre, get it. If you're not a fan of the genre, consider getting it anyway. It's good enough to provide quality entertainment to most readers. It's well worth investing the time.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Maggie Packard · Rating 3 out of 5]

really enjoyed the premise and the storyline and the smut-with-plot. it was fun to read, i (mostly) liked the main characters (but i get impatient when they don’t adjust to life-altering revelations in a timely manner, as a reader who already saw these life-altering revelations coming, which is understandably unrealistic of me to expect but alas), and i found the writing pretty engaging. + i’m a big patches fan i think. things i did not enjoy…

-not knowing the meaningful difference between commas and periods

-some lack of contextualization/could have used slightly slower, more comprehensive pacing

-some lack of character development

that being said, it’s an easy read with an interesting storyline and i would like to read the sequel. i would also like to read the bonus chapter, but whatever third party site the author uses is so insufferably un-user friendly that i can’t access it no matter what blood oath i promise to take, but that’s just a personal gripe i’m having at the moment.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Margo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was such a great story! Luna was raised by her aunt after her parents died in a fire when she was seven. When her aunt died, she discovered that she has a grandmother who lives in Vermont and her aunt wanted them to meet. Luna leaves her Boston life and moves to Vermont, believing that she has never known her Granny.

She has a bit of problem getting to her Granny's home and is helped by Jackson, a wolf shifter. There is an attraction between them, even though Luna is warned to stay away from him. She discovers secrets about herself, her family, and her parents' murders.

It's a fascinating story of Luna's self-discovery, Luna and Jackson's relationship, and Luna navigating the world of shifters. The story continues in the second book, so you are left with a cliffhanger. I hope the second book comes out soon because I want to know what is happening!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book ask the until the end - where it got annoying. The bickering was just a way to get us to the cliffhanger ending, but my eyes were sore from rolling them.

Luna comes to a small town on Vermont to meet her grandmother who she just found out even existed. Luna had been raised by an aunt after her parents deaths and had grown up in Boston. When her aunt died of cancer, she had left a letter that told Luna how to find her grandmother. Luna's life will change drastically when she eventually finds out a secret about her parents, her grandmother, her new boyfriend, and other locals. But something dark is going on in the area and she is about to get caught up in it.

I am intrigued and ready to find out what happens next. I was given an advanced copy of this book by the author. My review is voluntary.

[Fhatuwani Nthakheni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. I love reading about paranormal beings as it's like living in a world full of possibilities. I loved the way the characters grew into themselves, how they trusted each other and got to know each other as their relationship began to grow into something beautiful. Their growth towards each other was filled with its ups and downs and they soon found absolute trust in each other. They always chose each other and were there for each other always. I can recommend this book because it simply keeps you turning the pages wanting to know what happens next, it was a pleasant read that was filled with secrets that turned Luna's life 180 degrees south of normal and the ability to choose family and those you love all the time.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this is a good 4-star with lots of steam. Luna’s mood swings were a little much for me sometimes. She was a bit irrational at times. Jackson’s character is great; he’s dynamic enough to play the leading role without it being too much. I did like the premise of the book, but I felt really sad by the ending. It’s a cliffhanger, which is fine; there’s going to be a second one and hopefully the HEA will come then. But what made me sad about the end was the build up to it; there was some minor drama between the main characters that I felt kinda deflated a lot of the plot of the whole book. They are fated mates after all. It makes me nervous that the drama from the end of this book is going to drag out in the second. I’m excited to see what happens though.

I received an arc for my review.

[Sher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This took me a bit to get into, but once I did, I got sucked into it. For the most part I enjoyed the characters (main and secondary), but tended to get frustrated with both Luna and Jackson.

Luna finds out late in life that her whole life is a lie. She meets Jackson and they are instantly attracted to each other but he’s hot and cold with her. Their fighting got a bit much there at the end and all the secrets got annoying. Some were obvious and some were a surprise. The bonus epilogue gives us a look into the last chapter in Jackson’s POV and it looks like some MAJOR surprises are in store in the second book. More secrets! Seriously 😳

That being said I will read the next book as I did enjoy the overall premise of the book.

I received an ARC from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving a review voluntarily.

[Nora Ellen (Nbbookery) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving from Boston to rural Vermont in search of her last living relative, Luna was excited to return to her quiet city life until she met Jackson. Sexy as sin but bossy as hell, he keeps showing up whenever Luna goes. Their chemistry is undeniable, like fate is pushing them together. Luna is determined to unravel the mysteries in her life, but Jackson seems determined to drive her to insanity. Oh, and apparently, paranormal creatures exist!

This was a good take on a character who doesn't know about the paranormal suddenly being surrounded by others. Luna is used to doing things for herself, and unraveling her life's mysteries is the same situation. What she doesn't expect is the great found family she picks up along the way. That cliffhanger, though! Just when we think everything is going to be fine. C'mon Jackson, time to save the day!

[latrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the death of her aunt, Luna moves states to take care of her long-lost Grandmother who she taught she never met. Upon arriving at her grandma's house in the woods she meets Jackson, and he is kind of rude to her. Anyways back to Grandma. Luna finds out that her grandma was in her life when she was a kid (she doesn't remember) but left her after her parents died (there is more to that story). Then she starts seeing Jackson. She finds out that she is a werewolf and she's his mate. Also, her grandma is a werewolf and so were her parents. She finds out the truth about their deaths too and how it connects with Jackson.

Then there is another pack that wants her, and her roommate ends up getting kidnapped. Finally, when everything seems to be getting back to normal Luna ends up getting kidnapped and it ends with a cliffhanger. I look forward to reading book 2!!

[Katie T · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I normally love the fated mate type books, I truly struggled with this book. The first half of the book was amazing. It sucked me in and had me wanting more. However the second half I struggled to force myself to read. It almost felt like this book was written by two different people. The second half of the book did not flow as nicely as the first half.

I did like the overall plot and characters. It’s was a little spicy. I wished the steamy details were a little more. The steamy scenes seemed like they were more after thought for the second half of the book. The attitude change for the FMC and MMC near the end were confusing. It completely broke from the pre established way of thinking, though I do realize this may be more set up for book 2 if felt rushed and dis-jointed.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[ajscenic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an unusual take on a story about finding yourself and finding your place in the world.
I liked how we were immediately thrown into a flashback about Luna and her parents to then find that it was twisted on its head. This made me more curious and gave me more or an interested in the book.
This is a very spicy book and boy did it get heated.
There were a couple of points which came up where things were mentioned but nothing else was made of it. I don’t know where they were supposed to be red herrings or will find a place in book 2. They could have been explained/ placed a little better.
This book does end on a cliffhanger so if you don’t like them, then wait for book 2 and then binge read both books.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I were Luna, I’d be pretty ticked. All her life, no one has told her the truth. Her aunt had years of opportunities to tell her but didn’t! Just sent Luna to the grandmother she didn’t know she had, leaving her to bumble around. Even after she finds out, neither Jackson nor her grandma can seem to be fully honest, just doling out little bits of info. And Jackson not listening and giving her the “you’re not trying” speech - I would’ve smacked him rather than just going for a run. Complete honesty would’ve been better preparation. Jackson’s hot but sometimes he acts pretty dumb. Looking forward to what happens next!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Alina de Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first shifter/fantasy romance novel and I feel like it was a good place to start because it was a lot of fun. The story is pretty light, no angst even though de FMC has gone through trauma of losing parents and main caretaker she´s totally cool with life. The spicy scenes are super hot so I liked that 😆. I loved the art in the cover. I was kind of weirded out that I was getting mixed feelings about the MMC, but that all got all cleared up in the follow up companion novel, so be sure to read that one as well.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jaime Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fated to the Lone Wolf is book 1 in The Luna Shaw Series. Fated to the Lone Wolf is spicy shifter red riding hood retelling and an incredibly addictive read! It's a fascinating story of Luna's self-discovery, Luna and Jackson's relationship, and Luna navigating the world of shifters. I really liked the main characters, it had good tension, great spicy scenes. The chemistry and banter between Jackson and Luna are unmatched. This is a VERY spicy book that does end in a cliffhanger! I had an idea something similar would happen, but it did not occur in the way I expected. It's well worth investing the time. I will definitely be picking up book two to see where book one's cliffhanger goes!

[Brandy Stansbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun & exciting wolf shifter romance book! Luna finds out that she has family she never met in a small, middle of nowhere town. She quickly moves there & discovers that there is a lot more to learn about her past than she realized. There is dark, brooding, mysterious & handsome man that keeps popping up in her life. In a nearby town, there is a strange & curious community that everyone avoids. Add those in with a loving grandma & quirky friends to get some reading gold. I seriously can't wait to see where this story goes in book two!

[Dominique · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book through BookSirens as an ARC, I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"She had always taught me to have a strong grip on my own emotions. You can't control how someone acts toward you, but you can always control your reaction. Never show you were upset or angry, men would just call you emotional and not respect you. Women would use it against you. Sarah's advice was harsh, but I understood. You could never rely on anyone but yourself."

Another good werewolf read!! This one does end on a cliffhanger and I'm so glad I already have the next book!

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! It had a bit of a fairytale feel - you know the one with the red hood and wolf. Even Grandma was there. It ends on a cliff, but don't worry. Book 2 is available to read right after. Can't wait to see what happens. My only gripe against the tale is that some parts are a bit too descriptive, but that's just my opinion. I skimmed over those bits and didn't lose any of the details. Otherwise, it was well-written and edited. It moved smoothly and keeps you interested in what might be coming next.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Audrianna Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been one of the best shifter novels I’ve read this year! The world building is great. Jackson and Luna’s relationship is exactly what you want to read in a romance novel. The give and take is perfect! There are spicy scenes, but they could be spicier. There is drama towards the end, which leads to a very sad cliffhanger. It makes me hope in the second book we get a resolution. Overall, a wonderful shifter book that should be on your TBR if you like shifter novels!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Leisel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this a perfectly entertaining story from a new Author for my reading pleasure and was more than happy to skip along the path of wolf shifter and damsel in distress vibes, actually a little like red riding hood vibes.

A plot that was easy to read but still held my attention throughout and that ability to keep me on my toes enough to want to see how this two part series was going to unfold. Likeable characters always make a story more enjoyable as they seem to make you invested in wanting to see them get their HEA's. Part 2 just around the corner for me…. woohoo!

[Aki · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily <3

Bit of a different spin on/retelling of Red Riding Hood. Luna is totally a firecracker o_o and the MMC is not your typical asshole alpha, which was great <3 I really enjoyed the book and it made me laugh quite a bit. I adored Jasper and would loved to have seen more of him <3
There was lots of female rage.

I don't think I'd class it as an enemies-to-lovers though.

Overall, it was a fun read and I enjoyed it. Looking forward to reading the next book!

[Andra Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fated to the Lone Wolf is the first book in the Luna Shaw Series. It starts with quite a dramatic bang and gets better from there. The characters are wholly relatable despite some being paranormal of the shifter variety, and the storyline is wrought with twists, betrayal, steamy romance, suspense, action, humor, and more. The book is a very engaging and entertaining read. It ends with quite the cliffhanger, so I cannot wait to read book two, Mated to the Alpha.

I received a copy of this book from my Kindle Unlimited subscription and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed this book at first. The story was entertaining and I liked the peripheral characters and story development. I liked having the backstory fill in slowly. It got really slow and redundant around 75%, though. SPOILERS: Then, it completely lost my interest when the mmc, at the end, did a 180 and I found out the fmc ends up with another guy in the next book. I absolutely hate when I’ve invested in a relationship through an entire book, finally get hooked, only to have a new love interest turn up. Not my cup of tea.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, from the gate this was a great book. I felt it was fast paced, and initially I couldn't put it down. Loved the characters and story line. I especially adored Luna's grandmother. The romance was wonderful. I'm a sucker for a good paranormal/fantasy romance. I will say that toward the end, the last quarter of the book felt a little forced and slow. I had a difficult time finishing but I did push through and I'm glad I did. I look forward to the next book.

[Jes Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yer a shifter Harry!!

Little Red Riding Hood vibes!! Wolf shifters abound!

If you like your urban fantasy set in a rural town surrounded by forest, with a growly, possessive MMC and a feisty yet vulnerable FMC than this is the book for you.

This spicy story is an easy read that is well written, with relatable characters. The banter between characters is top notch and made me laugh out loud a lot.

Themes of family secrets, lost/found family, enemies to lovers and fated mates.

Watch that cliffhanger at the end, it's a doozy.
This is part one of a duet and gets the reader ready for part two. (Part two out now and is fantastic)

[Sara Jamieson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the people. Real/multifacueted, easy to relate to and not too over the top. The plot was fast paced and only paused when more time was needed for spicy scenes. I loved the tension at the beginning and the main characters interactions right at the end of the book. Can't wait to see what happens after that interesting ending!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kayla LaFleure · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fast paced spicy romance that will leave you needing more. Getting to meet Luna and see her understanding of the shifter world and love blossom with her fated mate?

This book had me laughing, crying and all the above. I was obsessed from the start. The way L.L Winters was able to take a shifter romance and give it spice and weight of a coming together story? UGH I can’t wait for book 2!